In My Younger

In my younger years, during the lean times, I learned the difference between "need" and "want." Now, from a spiritual side, I have a different understanding of them. And once again, it comes down to the heart.

While listening to a popular song, on the way to church yesterday, I heard the 23rd Psalm recited. It was a newer translation, and it gave me pause.

“The LORD is my shepherd; I have everything I need.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23:1‬ ‭

That "sounds" soooo good, BUT!

I looked it up and found multiple translations say the same. (GNB‬‬, NLT, NCV)

Then another says:

“The LORD is my shepherd. I am never in need.”  Psalms‬ ‭23:1‬ ‭GW‬‬

Most people would not have an issue with either -

BUT

So, I looked up the definitions.

need:

verb

1. 1. 

   
   

   require (something) because it is essential or very important.

   "I need help now"

   
   

   synonyms:

   require, be in need of, have need of, want;  be crying out for, be desperate for;  demand, call for, necessitate, entail, involve;  lack, be without, be short of "do you need money?"
2. 2. 

   
   

   expressing necessity or obligation.

   "need I say more?"

   
   

   synonyms:

   have to, be obliged to, be compelled to "you needn't come"

noun

1. 1. 

   
   

   circumstances in which something is necessary, or that require some course of action; necessity.

   "the basic human need for food"

   
   

   synonyms:

   necessity, obligation, requirement, call, demand "there's no need to apologize"

2. 2. 

   
   

   a thing that is wanted or required.

   "his day-to-day needs"

   
   

   synonyms:

   requirement, essential, necessity, want, requisite, prerequisite, demand, desideratum "basic human needs"

As s child I had memorized the King James which says:

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalms‬ ‭23:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

So I looked up -

want

verb

1. 1. 

   
   

   have a desire to possess or do (something); wish for.

   "I want an apple"

   
   

   synonyms:

   desire, wish for, hope for, aspire to, fancy, care for, like;  long for, yearn for, crave, hanker after, hunger for, thirst for, cry out for, covet;  need; informalhave a yen for, have a jones for, be dying for "do you want more coffee?"
2. 2. 

   archaic

   
   

   lack or be short of something desirable or essential.

   "you shall want for nothing while you are with me"

noun

1. 1. 

   archaic

   
   

   a lack or deficiency of something.

   "Victorian houses which are in want of repair"

   
   

   synonyms:

   lack, absence, nonexistence, unavailability; More
2. 2. 

   
   

   a desire for something.

   "the expression of our wants and desires"

   
   

   synonyms:

   wish, desire, demand, longing, yearning, fancy, craving, hankering; need, requirement;  informalyen "all her wants would be taken care of"

Do you see the difference?

As I said, it's about the heart. 

There is a huge difference in God giving you what you need, and Him being the fulfillment of your every want. 

When watching my pennies, I got what I "needed", but I still had "wants."  I would often dream about a day when I could buy what I "wanted!"

In the KJV - David is saying "every want is met; God had met his every desire; he was satisfied in Him!

It starts out as denying the flesh and then becomes the realization, He is MORE than enough; nothing else compares. It's the difference between fleeting happiness and joy unspeakable!

It's discovering a greater wealth that money can't buy.

“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalms‬ ‭37:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Especially when He is the desire of your heart!

My prayer: Father, forgive me for the times when You were not enough.  I repent of the desires of the flesh and thank You for Your mercy and Your grace. Amen.

“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1:7-8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Even so - MARANATHA!